Meetings
Conference abstracts
81 public abstracts from 2021 to 2026. Findings are the abstract’s own wording. Level 1 items, where ctDNA or MRD assigned treatment or surveillance, have a coral bar. Slide and poster links, when added, may require an ASCO or ESMO member login.
20 abstracts
- Level 1positiveASCO Annual Meeting 2026
Patient-reported outcomes from IMvigor011: A phase 3 study of circulating tumor (ct)DNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab vs placebo in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
Bellmunt, Joaquim · Abstract 4627 · IMvigor011 · 250 ctDNA-positive patients randomized (167 atezolizumab, 83 placebo)
not named in the abstract
Time to confirmed deterioration in physical functioning, role functioning, and global health status/quality of life showed no evidence of a difference between atezolizumab and placebo. More than 90% of patients in both arms reported little or no treatment side-effect burden through cycle 11. The abstract concludes ctDNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab improved DFS and OS without negatively affecting patient-reported quality of life.
- Level 2mixedASCO Annual Meeting 2026
ctDNA analysis in participants with renal cell carcinoma treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo in the KEYNOTE-564 trial.
Choueiri, Toni K. · Abstract 4502 · KEYNOTE-564 · 994 randomized (496 pembrolizumab, 498 placebo); baseline ctDNA in 736; cycle 5 day 1 ctDNA in 641
Natera Signatera RUO tissue-exome-based 16-plex and 64-plex assays
Baseline ctDNA was detectable in only 5.4% (16-plex) and 8.2% (64-plex) of 736 analyzed patients. ctDNA positivity was associated with worse DFS in both arms (P<0.05 for both assays), but sensitivity to predict DFS events was low and specificity was high. Among patients detectable at baseline and evaluable at cycle 5 day 1, clearance occurred in 6/10 vs 3/14 (16-plex) and 10/18 vs 9/25 (64-plex) with pembrolizumab vs placebo. The abstract concludes these data highlight limitations of these assays in clear-cell RCC.
- Level 1mixedASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to guide response-adapted bladder preservation in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
Ghatalia, Pooja · Abstract LBA632 · LBA · RETAIN-2 (and combined RETAIN-1/2) · 71 evaluable RETAIN-2 patients; combined ctDNA analysis across RETAIN-1/2: 274 timepoints from 111 patients
Signatera (named in the abstract)
Estimated 2-year metastasis-free survival was 79.8% in the RETAIN-2 ITT population; the abstract states RETAIN-2 is expected to meet its primary MFS endpoint. Among 22 active-surveillance patients, 16 (73%) remained metastasis-free with an intact bladder. Post-treatment ctDNA negativity or clearance predicted lower recurrence (34.8% and 43.8%) than persistent positivity or non-clearance (85.7% and 91.7%). Among active-surveillance patients who were ctDNA-negative after treatment, 24-month MFS was 82.4% but 24-month RFS was 50.7%, driven by local recurrences: 19 of 22 who recurred on active surveillance were ctDNA-negative after treatment.
- Level 3prognosticASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026
Whole genome–based ultrasensitive circulating tumor DNA clearance as a biomarker of exceptional outcomes with enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab in urothelial carcinoma: Preliminary real-world results.
Zerey, Mehmet Murat · Abstract 866 · 27 patients, 118 plasma samples; single-institution retrospective
Next Personal Dx tumor-informed whole-genome sequencing assay (up to 1,800 patient-specific variants; detection down to about 1 part per million), as stated in the abstract
Among evaluable patients, 11 (48%) achieved ctDNA clearance after a median of 3 EVP cycles and 12 (52%) had persistent positivity. The abstract states clearance correlated with exceptional clinical and radiographic outcomes, and persistent positivity identified residual or progressive disease. Median follow-up 13.8 months; 19 of 27 remained under surveillance, including 9 with metastatic disease.
- Level 2positiveASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026
Urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients (pts) with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who received perioperative durvalumab (D) in NIAGARA.
Van Der Heijden, Michiel S. · Abstract 636 · NIAGARA · 265 biomarker-evaluable (25% of 1063 randomized)
Signatera for ctDNA (named in the related NIAGARA ASCO 2025 abstract). utDNA as described in this abstract.
utDNA-positive rate fell from 85% at baseline to 55% pre-cystectomy. Clearance was associated with longer EFS (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.62) and was 12 percentage points higher with durvalumab (39% vs 27%). Pre-cystectomy utDNA-negative status was associated with pCR (72% [55/76] vs 18% [17/96] if utDNA-positive). Estimated 24-month EFS was 90% if dual-negative, 75% if utDNA-positive only, and 55% if dual-positive.
- Level 1positiveASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026
Circulating tumor (ct)DNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab (atezo) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC): Exploratory analysis of ctDNA dynamics in the IMvigor011 trial.
Powles, Thomas · Abstract 633 · IMvigor011 · 379 patients who tested ctDNA-positive during surveillance; on-treatment dynamics in 165 atezolizumab and 83 placebo
not named in the abstract (results reported as mean tumor molecules/mL)
Of patients first testing ctDNA-positive, 74.1% (281/379) did so within 24 weeks of radical cystectomy; early positivity and higher baseline concentration (median 0.27 MTM/mL) were associated with shorter investigator-assessed DFS. Atezolizumab decreased ctDNA levels between cycle 1 and 3 (log2 fold-change -0.4) while levels increased on placebo (log2 fold-change 0.5; Wilcoxon P=0.009). Clearance at cycle 3 or 5 was associated with improved DFS and OS.
- Level 3prognosticASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026
Use of ultra-sensitive whole genome circulating tumor DNA detection to predict early recurrence in high-risk localized RCC after nephrectomy: Preliminary real-world findings.
Amaral, Paulo Siqueira do · Abstract 516 · 22 patients, 42 plasma samples; single-center retrospective
Next Personal Dx whole-genome tumor-informed assay (Personalis)
At a median follow-up of 7.0 months, 3 of 22 patients (14%) were ctDNA-positive at any timepoint (all <100 ppm); 2 of those 3 developed radiographic recurrence. Only 1 of 20 patients negative at the 3-month landmark recurred, and 0 of 16 with persistent ctDNA negativity recurred during follow-up.
- Level 2positiveASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2026, Abstract 537 2026
Circulating KIM-1 and ctDNA as prognostic markers in oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC): The K-COMPASS model.
Tang C · Abstract 537 · NCT03575611 · 112 patients with KIM-1 measurements; median baseline KIM-1 127.0 pg/mL (IQR 71.5–228.0)
Personalized ctDNA detection panels (≤2000 somatic variants) from tumor whole-genome sequencing (Myriad Genetics); plasma KIM-1
ASCO GU 2026 abstract 537: among 112 patients, baseline and 3-month KIM-1 and ctDNA MRD were each associated with STFS in univariable and multivariable analyses; K-COMPASS (baseline KIM-1, baseline ctDNA MRD, and four clinical variables) had C-index 0.76 and calibration slope 1.
- Level 2positiveESTRO 2026, Abstract 846 2026
Optimizing oligometastatic disease management with circulating tumor DNA: a correlative analysis from the phase II randomized EXTEND trial
Sherry AD · Abstract 846 · EXTEND (NCT03599765)
ESTRO 2026 abstract 846 (Sherry first, Tang last) is a correlative ctDNA analysis of the phase 2 randomized EXTEND trial. Title, authorship, DOI, and pagination were verified on CrossRef; the abstract body was not deposited, so no ESTRO-only numeric results are filed. Exploratory ctDNA findings are taken from the subsequent JCO paper (PMID 42142259), not from institutional news releases.
- Level 2positiveAACR Annual Meeting 2025, Abstract CT132 2025
Phase 2 trial of metastasis directed radiotherapy without systemic therapy (MRWS) for oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and investigation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a personalized biomarker
Tang C · Abstract CT132 · NCT03575611 · 121 patients enrolled July 2018–May 2023 (NCT03575611)
Individualized ctDNA panels (Myriad Genetics) from tumor whole-genome sequencing; MRD+ if ctDNA detected
AACR 2025 abstract CT132 of NCT03575611: median PFS 18 months and median STFS 34 months in 121 patients; baseline ctDNA MRD+ in 56%, with shorter STFS (HR 2.9, 27 vs 54 months); 31% of baseline-MRD+ patients converted to MRD– at 3 months, and 3-month MRD+ was associated with shorter STFS (HR 4.3).
- Level 2positiveASCO Annual Meeting 2025
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who received perioperative durvalumab (D) in NIAGARA.
Powles, Thomas · Abstract 4503 · NIAGARA · 462 biomarker-evaluable of 1063 randomized (237 durvalumab arm, 225 control)
Signatera (named in the abstract)
ctDNA-positive rate was 57% (260/460) at baseline and fell to 22% (94/422) after neoadjuvant treatment, pre-cystectomy. Clearance from baseline to pre-cystectomy was 41% with durvalumab plus NAC vs 31% with NAC alone. Pre-cystectomy ctDNA-positive status was associated with non-pCR in 97% (86/89). Event-free survival benefit of perioperative durvalumab was observed in both baseline ctDNA-positive and ctDNA-negative groups. Post-cystectomy ctDNA-positive rate was 9% (31/345).
- Level 3prognosticASCO Annual Meeting 2025
Association of tumor-informed ctDNA-based molecular residual disease (MRD) with clinical outcomes for upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC).
Ayanambakkam, Adanma · Abstract 4565 · 45 patients with stage I-IV UTUC, 349 plasma samples
Signatera (tumor-informed)
ctDNA detection was 70.8% in the MRD window (n=24) and 68.8% during surveillance (n=32). Positivity was associated with inferior RFS (MRD window HR 13.4, P=0.012; surveillance HR 14.46, P=0.01). 12-month RFS was 32.1% and 45.5% if positive vs 100% if negative in those windows. On multivariate analysis during surveillance, ctDNA positivity was the only factor significantly associated with poor RFS (HR 17.6, P=0.011).
- Level 2positiveESMO Congress 2025
3068O Adjuvant nivolumab vs placebo for high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma: 5-year efficacy and ctDNA results from CheckMate 274
Galsky, M.D. · Abstract 3068O · oral · CheckMate 274 · 709 randomized (353 nivolumab, 356 placebo); ctDNA evaluable at cycle 1 day 1 in 133 (18.8%), of whom 54 (40.6%) were ctDNA-positive
Natera Signatera (exploratory)
With median follow-up 43.4 months, adjuvant nivolumab improved DFS versus placebo in the ITT population (median 21.9 vs 11.0 months; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.90). In the exploratory Signatera analysis, DFS HR was 0.35 (95% CI 0.2-0.7) in patients who were ctDNA-positive at cycle 1 day 1 (median 7.4 vs 2.8 months) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.5-1.9) in those who were ctDNA-negative.
Full paperSlidesWebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
- Level 1positiveESMO Congress 2025
LBA8 IMvigor011: A phase III trial of circulating tumour (ct)DNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab vs placebo in muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Powles, T.B. · Abstract LBA8 · LBA · IMvigor011 · 761 enrolled in surveillance; 250 ctDNA-positive patients randomized (167 atezolizumab, 83 placebo); 357 persistently ctDNA-negative
not named in the abstract
Among 250 eligible ctDNA-positive patients after cystectomy, adjuvant atezolizumab improved investigator-assessed DFS versus placebo (median 9.9 vs 4.8 months; HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.87; P=0.0047) and OS (median 32.8 vs 21.1 months; HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.90; P=0.0131). In 357 patients who remained ctDNA-negative, DFS was 95.4% at the end of 1-year monitoring and 88.4% at 2 years.
Full paperSlidesWebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
- Level 2positiveThe Oncologist, 2025, abstract 7 2025
Phase 2 trial of metastasis directed radiotherapy without systemic therapy (MRWS) for oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and investigation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)
Tang C · Abstract 7 · NCT03575611 · 121 patients (NCT03575611)
Individualized ctDNA panels (Myriad Genetics) from tumor whole-genome sequencing
The Oncologist abstract 7 reports the same NCT03575611 ctDNA analysis as AACR CT132, with baseline MRD+ in 56% (STFS HR 2.9, 27 vs 54 months) and 3-month MRD+ STFS HR 4.3; a few clinical tallies differ slightly from CT132 and are not pooled.
- Level 3neutralASCO Annual Meeting 2024, Abstract 3039 2024
Comparison of primary versus metastatic tumor tissue sources when designing panels for whole genome–based tumor-informed ctDNA assays in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Seo A · Abstract 3039 · 5 patients; 13 primary-tumor, 24 metastatic-lesion, and matched buffy-coat samples; baseline plasma before radiotherapy
Myriad Genetics High-Definition MRD assay: tumor/normal WGS (median coverage 30x); a sub-panel of up to 1,000 somatic variants designed for each lesion subsite; hybridization capture from plasma cfDNA
ASCO 2024 methods abstract (Seo first, Tang last): in 5 oligometastatic ccRCC patients, baseline MRD calls from Myriad High-Definition MRD sub-panels designed from primary-tumor vs metastatic subsites were fully concordant in 3 of 5 patients, at tumor fractions from 0.0004% to 0.027%.
- Level 3prognosticASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2024
Longitudinal circulating tumor DNA monitoring for detection of molecular residual disease in patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma.
Patel, Mukti · Abstract 11 · 7 patients with advanced HPV-unassociated penile squamous cell carcinoma; single-center retrospective
Signatera (personalized tumor-informed)
Assays were designed for all 7 patients, and ctDNA was detectable at least once in all. Rising ctDNA prompted imaging that showed progression in 3 patients. Two of 7 remained alive with sustained clearance and 3 with persistent positivity had died at the time of the report.
- Level 3prognosticASCO Annual Meeting 2023
Association of tumor-informed minimal residual disease (MRD) with clinical outcomes for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC): A multicenter retrospective real-world analysis.
Kommalapati, Ajitha · Abstract 3050 · 109 patients, 545 plasma samples; multicenter retrospective
Signatera (tumor-informed)
ctDNA positivity at the first post-surgical timepoint was associated with shorter DFS (HR 9.9, 95% CI 4.1-24; 65.79% of positive patients had recurred vs 8.45% of negative). Anytime post-cystectomy positivity: HR 25 (95% CI 5.9-103); 96.83% of persistently negative patients had no recurrence. Median lead time to imaging recurrence was 61 days. In multivariate analysis, anytime ctDNA positivity was the only significant factor associated with shorter DFS (HR 23.07).
- Level 3prognosticASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2023
Longitudinal detection of circulating tumor DNA in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Basu, Arnab · Abstract 715 · 41 patients with advanced RCC
Signatera (tumor-informed)
ctDNA was detected at any time point in 70% (29/41). All 14 patients who progressed had ctDNA detected ahead of radiographic progression (100% sensitivity in this series) with a median lead time of 13.6 weeks (range 1-39.7). Concordance between clinical outcome and ctDNA status was 78% (32/41).
- Level 2prognosticASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2022
Molecular residual disease (MRD) detection with a tissue comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP)-informed personalized monitoring assay: An exploratory analysis of the IMvigor-010 observation arm.
Young, Amanda · Abstract 448 · IMvigor010 (observation arm) · 182 patients on the observation arm evaluated at the MRD timepoint
tissue comprehensive genomic profiling-informed personalized monitoring assay (Foundation Medicine approach, as described in the abstract)
ctDNA was detected at the MRD timepoint in 66/182 (36%). Of those 66, 58 (88% PPV) had relapsed at analysis. Median DFS from randomization was 3 months if ctDNA-positive versus not reached if negative (HR 5.7, 95% CI 3.8-8.6); median OS 13 months vs not reached (HR 5.7, 95% CI 3.4-9.7).